Very Strange Sound Problem

internetguy · 10-01-2008, 06:34 PM

Sound on my crackles/pops/skips etc when played from any source on my computer (hard drive, usb drive, streaming from web, etc). MP3s, videos, etc all behave the same.

HOWEVER, as soon as I put a cd/dvd in the drive (no matter what's on it, even if it's blank), the sound problem is cured across my entire computer. I can take the cd/dvd out of the drive and the problem does not return until I restart my computer.

I work at a tech company and the IT guys there were totally perplexed when I brought my PC in, though they tossed out that it might be some kind of short in the system. I thought it might be some sort of codec conflict, but I'm pretty out of ideas. Anyone able to help?

SYSTEM:
dell inspiron 6000 notebook, bought in 2005
windows xp media center edition sp3
sigmatel integrated audio
pentium 1.6 ghz
2gb ram
TSSTcorp CDRW/DVD TSL462C
All the latest updated drivers.

**Pauldo** · 10-02-2008, 09:48 PM

Do you have wireless on or off?

More importantly, have you tried turning wireless off and playing music? Without putting a cd/dvd in first.

Pauldo

internetguy · 10-03-2008, 11:32 AM

Hi Pauldo, - Thanks for your suggestion. I normally keep wireless on but tried disabling it and restarting my computer. Unfortunately, though, this had no effect on the behavior I described. Any other ideas are welcome.

**Pauldo** · 10-03-2008, 01:34 PM

Too bad.

Have you tried updating with different Sigmatel drivers?

Pauldo

internetguy · 10-04-2008, 05:41 PM

I've tried rolling back the drivers for both the sound card and the CD drive, updating to the latest versions from Dell, and doing system restores to various points before this problem started, but so far nothing has worked.

**Pauldo** · 10-05-2008, 12:35 PM

There is something about 92XX drivers. Was any of your updates along those lines.

Again, I hope someone else can jump in here with suggestion as I am running out. I will say that I had some sound troubles on a computer of mine last year that was resolved by re-installing the system drivers. It was a custom build desktop, so not really a situation like yours, but it did have integrated audio and I would get really weird sound skipping at odd intervals. Didn't think to put a DVD in, though

.

Oh and I just thought of this, was this happening before you installed SP 3?

Pauldo

internetguy · 10-06-2008, 10:35 AM

Yeah, this is the most bizarre problem I've ever had with a computer. It took me a while to see the pattern with the dvd drive and I was pretty stunned when I did.

It started before I installed SP3.

The current Sigmatel driver version is 5.10.0.4255. From searching online, 92XX appears to be a line of Sigmatel audio codecs and I don't think I've installed them at any point.

The Dell support site isn't the best repository for legacy drivers - can you recommend a specific older (or newer) driver to use that I can install?

**Pauldo** · 10-06-2008, 01:08 PM

http://www.dell-drivers.com/dell-drivers-downloads/SIGMATEL-STAC-92XX-C-Major-HD-Audio_901.shtml

You probably already know this but do a back-up just in case.

Pauldo

internetguy · 10-07-2008, 01:35 PM

Thanks (again), but that driver gave me an error message about my system not supporting it...

Volt-Schwibe · 10-07-2008, 01:43 PM

my dell laptop does this too.

the only fix i found was to mute the cd rom in the extended volume control panel.

back in the day, desktop pc's had this problem too, but it was tons more common.

**Pauldo** · 10-07-2008, 03:48 PM

Not sure if this will help, but it looks like a different version and it might be worth a shot if your Sigmatel version is supported.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/detail_desc.aspx?strState=LIVE&ProductID=2065&DwnldID=8658&agr=N&lang=eng&PrdMap=2065

beandog · 10-09-2008, 08:01 PM

For a start, the best thing to do with any Dell computer is throw it in a river! Terrible machines that I've had endless trouble with (and their support is almost non-existent when any beyond-basic problems are encountered)...

Have you always had this problem with the PC or did it start a while after buying it? Did it start after installing a new device?

I've come across a lot of audio problems in the past on XP PCs that were caused by the sound card sharing an IRQ with another device on the PC. May pay to check if it's sharing one with something else...

Go into device manager, view resources by connection.

That's my shot in the dark! Good luck.

internetguy · 10-14-2008, 10:27 PM

Thank you all for the suggestions. To answer the queries:

@Beandog: This problem started a few months ago (the computer is three years old now). I didn't install any new hardware, but it could certainly have been the result of some software update as I tweak things occasionally. If that was it though it's lost to the sands of time, and system restore wasn't helpful immediately after I discovered the problem in any event.

I checked the IRQs and the Sigmatel C-Major Audio does share an IRQ resource with some Intel components (universal/enhanced host controllers, mobile express chipset), but since it's an integrated sound card this probably makes sense. Good suggestion.

@Pauldo: that version of the driver did install, but unfortunately didn't fix the issue.

@Volt-Schwibe: I tried muting the CD-ROM volume from systray but this didn't solve the problem either. Nice idea though.

Thanks again for the help. Computers are weird sometimes.

10-01-2008, 06:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
internetguy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP3	Very Strange Sound Problem Sound on my crackles/pops/skips etc when played from any source on my computer (hard drive, usb drive, streaming from web, etc). MP3s, videos, etc all behave the same. HOWEVER, as soon as I put a cd/dvd in the drive (no matter what's on it, even if it's blank), the sound problem is cured across my entire computer. I can take the cd/dvd out of the drive and the problem does not return until I restart my computer. I work at a tech company and the IT guys there were totally perplexed when I brought my PC in, though they tossed out that it might be some kind of short in the system. I thought it might be some sort of codec conflict, but I'm pretty out of ideas. Anyone able to help? SYSTEM: dell inspiron 6000 notebook, bought in 2005 windows xp media center edition sp3 sigmatel integrated audio pentium 1.6 ghz 2gb ram TSSTcorp CDRW/DVD TSL462C All the latest updated drivers.

10-02-2008, 09:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pauldo Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 1,444 OS: winXP Pro sp3 My System	Re: Very Strange Sound Problem Do you have wireless on or off? More importantly, have you tried turning wireless off and playing music? Without putting a cd/dvd in first. Pauldo

10-03-2008, 11:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
internetguy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP3	Re: Very Strange Sound Problem Hi Pauldo, - Thanks for your suggestion. I normally keep wireless on but tried disabling it and restarting my computer. Unfortunately, though, this had no effect on the behavior I described. Any other ideas are welcome.

10-03-2008, 01:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Pauldo Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 1,444 OS: winXP Pro sp3 My System	Re: Very Strange Sound Problem Too bad. Have you tried updating with different Sigmatel drivers? Pauldo

10-04-2008, 05:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
internetguy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP3	Re: Very Strange Sound Problem I've tried rolling back the drivers for both the sound card and the CD drive, updating to the latest versions from Dell, and doing system restores to various points before this problem started, but so far nothing has worked.

10-05-2008, 12:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Pauldo Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 1,444 OS: winXP Pro sp3 My System	Re: Very Strange Sound Problem There is something about 92XX drivers. Was any of your updates along those lines. Again, I hope someone else can jump in here with suggestion as I am running out. I will say that I had some sound troubles on a computer of mine last year that was resolved by re-installing the system drivers. It was a custom build desktop, so not really a situation like yours, but it did have integrated audio and I would get really weird sound skipping at odd intervals. Didn't think to put a DVD in, though . Oh and I just thought of this, was this happening before you installed SP 3? Pauldo

10-06-2008, 10:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
internetguy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP3	Re: Very Strange Sound Problem Yeah, this is the most bizarre problem I've ever had with a computer. It took me a while to see the pattern with the dvd drive and I was pretty stunned when I did. It started before I installed SP3. The current Sigmatel driver version is 5.10.0.4255. From searching online, 92XX appears to be a line of Sigmatel audio codecs and I don't think I've installed them at any point. The Dell support site isn't the best repository for legacy drivers - can you recommend a specific older (or newer) driver to use that I can install?

10-06-2008, 01:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Pauldo Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 1,444 OS: winXP Pro sp3 My System	Re: Very Strange Sound Problem http://www.dell-drivers.com/dell-drivers-downloads/SIGMATEL-STAC-92XX-C-Major-HD-Audio_901.shtml You probably already know this but do a back-up just in case. Pauldo

10-07-2008, 01:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
internetguy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP3	Re: Very Strange Sound Problem Thanks (again), but that driver gave me an error message about my system not supporting it...

10-07-2008, 01:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
Volt-Schwibe Asst. Manager, Automotive Forums; HJT Trainee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Behind you, watching you as you type. Posts: 7,372 OS: Click "My System" to view details My System	Re: Very Strange Sound Problem my dell laptop does this too. the only fix i found was to mute the cd rom in the extended volume control panel. back in the day, desktop pc's had this problem too, but it was tons more common. __________________ <signature> TSF is funded by our Admin's pocket, care to help? Power Tip: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. New Members: Creating a single new thread in the correct section is the best way to assure your thread will receive a reply. </signature>

10-07-2008, 03:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
Pauldo Enthusiast Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 1,444 OS: winXP Pro sp3 My System	Re: Very Strange Sound Problem Not sure if this will help, but it looks like a different version and it might be worth a shot if your Sigmatel version is supported. http://downloadcenter.intel.com/detail_desc.aspx?strState=LIVE&ProductID=2065&DwnldID=8658&agr=N&lang=eng&PrdMap=2065 Last edited by Pauldo; 10-07-2008 at 03:50 PM.

10-09-2008, 08:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
beandog Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 15 OS: XP Pro My System	Re: Very Strange Sound Problem For a start, the best thing to do with any Dell computer is throw it in a river! Terrible machines that I've had endless trouble with (and their support is almost non-existent when any beyond-basic problems are encountered)... Have you always had this problem with the PC or did it start a while after buying it? Did it start after installing a new device? I've come across a lot of audio problems in the past on XP PCs that were caused by the sound card sharing an IRQ with another device on the PC. May pay to check if it's sharing one with something else... Go into device manager, view resources by connection. That's my shot in the dark! Good luck.

10-14-2008, 10:27 PM	#13 (permalink)
internetguy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6 OS: XP SP3	Re: Very Strange Sound Problem Thank you all for the suggestions. To answer the queries: @Beandog: This problem started a few months ago (the computer is three years old now). I didn't install any new hardware, but it could certainly have been the result of some software update as I tweak things occasionally. If that was it though it's lost to the sands of time, and system restore wasn't helpful immediately after I discovered the problem in any event. I checked the IRQs and the Sigmatel C-Major Audio does share an IRQ resource with some Intel components (universal/enhanced host controllers, mobile express chipset), but since it's an integrated sound card this probably makes sense. Good suggestion. @Pauldo: that version of the driver did install, but unfortunately didn't fix the issue. @Volt-Schwibe: I tried muting the CD-ROM volume from systray but this didn't solve the problem either. Nice idea though. Thanks again for the help. Computers are weird sometimes.